How the Barton Reading and Spelling System Works
The Barton Reading & Spelling System is a comprehensive, systematic approach to teaching reading and spelling. Our 10-level program takes students from basic phonemic awareness to advanced reading fluency.
Our Teaching Methodology
Systematic & Sequential
Each skill builds upon the previous one in a logical, research-based sequence.
Multisensory Approach
Engages visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning pathways simultaneously.
Explicit Instruction
Direct teaching of skills with clear explanations and guided practice.
Mastery-Based
Students must demonstrate proficiency before advancing to the next level.
The 10-Level System
Each level is carefully designed to build upon previous skills, ensuring students develop a strong foundation before moving to more complex concepts.
Foundation Skills
Building the essential foundation for reading success
Typical Duration:
3-6 months
Key Skills Taught:
Letter-sound correspondence
Basic decoding skills
Phonemic awareness
Short vowel patterns
Consonant patterns
Mastering consonant combinations and blends
Typical Duration:
4-8 months
Key Skills Taught:
Consonant blends
Multi-syllable words
Digraphs (ch, sh, th, wh)
Reading fluency development
Vowel patterns
Understanding complex vowel combinations
Typical Duration:
6-10 months
Key Skills Taught:
Long vowel patterns
Silent-e patterns
Vowel teams (ai, ea, oa)
Spelling rules and patterns
Advanced patterns
Tackling challenging spelling and reading patterns
Typical Duration:
8-12 months
Key Skills Taught:
Complex vowel patterns
Advanced suffixes
R-controlled vowels
Multi-syllable decoding
Mastery & Fluency
Achieving reading independence and fluency
Typical Duration:
6-10 months
Key Skills Taught:
Advanced word analysis
Fluent text reading
Reading comprehension
Independent learning skills
Six Reasons for Silent-E
Understanding silent-e rules, consonant-LE syllables, and suffix changes.
Typical Duration:
6-10 months
Key Skills Taught:
Silent-e functions
Consonant-LE syllables
Suffix drop/keep rules
Unit syllables
Long-vowel patterns
Vowel-R Patterns
Mastering r-controlled vowels and their impact on reading and spelling.
Typical Duration:
7-11 months
Key Skills Taught:
ar, er, ir, or, ur patterns
Vowel-R syllables
Complex r-controlled words
Advanced prefixes
Advanced Vowel Teams
Learning complex vowel-team patterns across multisyllable words.
Typical Duration:
7-12 months
Key Skills Taught:
Advanced vowel-team combinations
Multisyllable decoding
Long vowel teams
Complex word analysis
Foreign Influences
Understanding spelling patterns from Greek, Latin, and French loanwords.
Typical Duration:
8-13 months
Key Skills Taught:
Silent-letter patterns
Foreign spelling influences
Greek/French/Latin forms
Advanced multisyllable words
Latin & Greek Roots
Building vocabulary through root analysis and academic word structure.
Typical Duration:
9-15 months
Key Skills Taught:
Latin roots
Greek combining forms
Chameleon prefixes
Advanced academic vocabulary
Assessment & Progress Tracking
Every student begins with a comprehensive screening to determine their starting level. Progress is carefully monitored throughout the program.
Initial screening assessment
Regular progress monitoring
Mastery-based advancement
Detailed progress reports
Success Metrics
Ready to Get Started?
Take the first step toward reading success. Our certified tutors are ready to help your child begin their journey through the Barton System.
